Oct 10, 2018

MINI LIVING – ​​BEHIND THE SCENES ​​​FOR INVERT 2.0.

Inspired by global conversations about urban density and multi-residential development, INVERT 2.0 MINI LIVING – BUILT BY ALL, is an exhibition and series of talks that explores what it means to create a meaningful and sustainable living environment. This year, we’re focusing on Melbourne.

“Around the world, cities are grappling with issues of urban density and Melbourne is no exception,’ says Tamsin O’Neill, Editor of green magazine. ‘We’ve taken a site adjacent to the Queen Victoria Market and asked architects and students to submit their vision for a sustainable multi-residential development for the site.”

A collaboration between MINI Living, green magazine, the City of Melbourne and RMIT School of Architecture, the exhibition will feature an interactive 3D model (visitors will be able to walk through and around it) of this re-imagined city block replete with residential, commercial, community and green spaces.

“We’re still seeing that in cities, urban density involves building up but people are doing this in more creative ways. There’s more greenery, more creative spaces and better community areas. People are sharing spaces and that’s what makes a community more sustainable,” says O’Neill.

Notably, the exhibition brings together established and emerging architects to create fresh ideas for changing urban lifestyles.

“This is really a way for us to come up with solutions to challenge the way architecture is practiced,” says RMIT University lecturer, Ian Nazareth. “We’re looking at the impact of the sharing economy on the city, and designing for demographic change.”

“We’re interested in ideas-led, adventurous design practice, so we encourage our students to take risks and be speculative in their propositions. This project with MINI is really about that industry value that it brings to the practice of architecture,” he says.

What we’ll see at the exhibition, says O’Neill, “is some really innovative ideas about the future of living in shared spaces in the city; and the future of food production, energy production and community activation.”

“For a design to be considered iconic, it needs to consider all the needs of the people who live there. It needs to be built with durable materials. And, it needs to be beautiful,” she says. “Something that’s iconic is going to stand the test of time.”

INVERT 2.0 MINI LIVING – BUILT BY ALL is open from October 17-26 in the MPavillion at Melbourne’s Hellenic Museum near the historic Queen Victoria Market.